Here are some actual facts too:
www.ccn.com
UK video games (excluding hardware) generated £3.864 billion last year, according to the Entertainment Retailers Associ…
www.gamesindustry.biz
Of course people like to have a choice, but the direction is clear. Physical discs for console are going to die too sooner or later, no matter how much you or me would hate it.
But i didn't want to argue on digital games in the first place. Nobody knows if a Lockhart is coming and nobody knows whether it will have a drive or not. My point was, that a Lockhart that undercuts the PS5 by let us say 100 bucks will attract many casual gamers, because the console price is the main buying reason for casuals when the gen starts. Later the price becomes less important, then it's most important what console the friends have and they go after that. That's why the starting price is so important, it defines the whole gen.
And i do not prefer Microsoft over Sony generally, i chose my products without loving brands. Atm it's the X. PS5 is >20% stronger than Series X? I go for Ps5. And if i have the choice i will always go for consoles with drives.